Razor-blade-sharpening device



March 10, 1931. A. GIRTANNER anon nunssmarnnnle DEVICE origami Filed Oct. 21, 1926 gnozntoz Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UN [TED STA TES ALEXANDER GIBTANNER, OF .NEW YORK, N. "Y., ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC LIGHTER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, .N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RAZOR-BLADE-SHARPENING DEVICE Application filed October 21, 1326,'Scrial.in.1133.73. Renewed May 28, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in razor blade sharpening devices and more particularly refers to that class of sharpening devices where the action of a magnetized '5 holder or support is utilized for bringing into alignment the minute particles constituting the cutting edges of razor blades without the 'use-ofanyother sharpening means orrcontrivancc.

The primary object of this invention is to providea razor blade sharpening device of a novel and improved construction whereby the magnetic attraction exerted by the poles of a magnet .upon the cutting edges of the razor blade is utilized to best advantage throughout the length of said cutting edges.

Another object isto provide a device of the character specified in which the action of the poles oft-he magnetized support upon the cut- 3 ting edges'of the razor blade is supplemented by the action of simple and eflicient means for maintaining the blade perfectly fiat and in close adherence to said poles.

A further object is to provide a magnetic 25 razor sharpening device of asimple and practical construction, adapted for current use by the average safety :razor useigafiording a convenience as well as a saving by eliminating the time required by ordinary sharpening 3 methods, and by increasing the usetul life of razor blades.

Other objects and advantages of the pres ent invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inv the appended claims.

The use of the magnetic action-rrht'he poles of a magnet upon the cutting edge or edges of a razor blade in order to maintain the minute particles of which the edge is composed in their proper alignment, is not in a broad sense new, having :been used before in various contrivances designed for this purpose. However, in all the instances that have come to my notice, the magnetic action did not appear to be used to full advantage and the mechanical arrangements provided were otherwise open to various improvements.

The action of-the in etized poles, is, of course, to attract the minute ipart'icles forming the'cutting edge, which might get out of al ignn'ient during the shaving operation, returning them to their normal position. If this action isexerted liora prolonged time the sharpness of the edge will have been reestablished in a permanent manner until the blade once more used and the need of resharpening it occurs again.

It has been my experience that in order .to properly utilize the sharpening action of magnetized poles, it is advantageous to soarrange the razor blade in relation to the magnet that the magnetic attraction is exerted with a uniform intensity along the entire length of the edge.

Then the magnetic intensity is not uniformly distributed, there is created in the blade a'certain tendency to warping which in terferes with the proper use ofthe blade when inserted in positionon a-safety razor.

It is also desirable,-of course, that the magnetic action be as strong as possible, that is, given a certain magnet it is desirable to utilize itsaction atsuch points where the magnetic flux is strongest.

A better sharpening action is obtained if the blade is maintained in close adherence to the magnetized poles bysome suitable means exerting a moderate pressure sufficient to cause a straightening of both the edges and the body of the blade itself. In order to obtain a more intimate contact between .the edges ottlie bladeand the surfaceof the magnetized poles, I have found it advantageous to make said surfaces slightly slanted or inclined to register with and counterbalance the inclination of the surface of the blade which is caused by sharpeningit from the normal thickness of the blade to the extremely fine line by which the cutting edge is delimited.

Cognate subject matter, including generic claims to the species herein specifically claimed is embraced in mycopending applications,Serial Nos. 293,868, filed July .19, 1928, and 898,131,,filed-Qct. 8, 1929.

Allthese features are embodied in my improved device and will he .more fully understooidrby referring to theaccompanying drawing,'in"which: V

Fill iii) Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device illustrating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the same;

Fig. 8 is a side view in elevation of the same;

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, 10 designates a body made of inagnetizable metal, such as steel. Said body is made in the form of a U shaped plat-e, preferably provided with two upwardly projecting side ribs 11, 12 forming a housing 13, of a width substantially corresponding to the width of an ordinary safety 7 razor blade, or slightly larger. A safety razor blade such as 14:, laid on top of body 10 between ribs 11 and 12, as shown, will therefore rest upon the bottom surface of housing 13, on top of the plate.

The body 10 is magnetized and therefore its two legs 15, 16 constitute the poles of a magnet adapted to exert magnetic attraction on any iron or steel object, Then the blade is inserted in position therefore, the minute particles of the cutting edges which may have gone out of alignment after use in shaving will be drawn towards the surface of the magnet and will accordingly tend to once more resume their normal position in a perfectly straight line instead of in the saw tooth or irregular arrangement which follows use..

If the edges are thus subjected to magnetic action of the device for a suflicient length of time, the result willbe a perfect readjustment of the minute edge particles substantially corresponding to the action obtained by sharpening in the ordinary manner.

The average razor user shaves but once a day, and therefore it is entirely practical, to leave the blade in the device from one day to the next so that the magnetic action is given ample time to reset the edges in good condition.

I have found that the action of the device considerably improved if the edges of the of both the blade and the edges thereof, will register perfectly with the underlying sur face and will be uniformly supported thereby. A dull blade has an edge which may be compared to that of a saw blade, where not only is the edge irregular by having a saw tooth structure,but also by having its teeth spread or oflset sideways, some on one side and some on the other just like the teeth of a saw. By causing'the edges of the blade to closel adhere to the underl in ma netized Fig. 3. I frontwise, by sliding it along the upper sursurface, and by assisting the efiect of the magnetic force by the application of pressure against the blade, I am enabled to use both the effect of the magnetic force in drawing in the teeth which are offset outwardly and the reaction of the magnetic surface against the teeth-which are ofi'set inwardly, the reaction being due to the fact that the magnetic action is in this caseexerted upon the body of the blade. If pressure is also added, the body of the blade will be both attracted by and forced against the surface of the magnet with the result that those teeth which are offset inwardly or towards the surface of the magnet will be forced in line by the counter-pressure applied against them by said surface.

It has been proposed to exert the magnetic action in line with instead of transversely of the edges of the blade, and in this case the magnetic action is exerted against the teeth oii'set on both sides with equal intensity; but the leverage of said magnetic'action in relation to said teeth is much less than in the present case where the magnetic action is exerted at right angle to the body of the blade and the full force exerted thereby may therefore be used to attract or force the minute saw-teeth of the edges into line.

Accordingly, the central portion 17 of the supporting surface is perfectly flat, but its side ortions 18, 19 are slightly inclined upward y to match the inclination of the edge sections of the blade as'shown in Fig. 2.

I have also found that more satisfactory results may be obtained if the blade is held against the magnetized surface with a certain pressure sufficient to maintain the blade fiat and to prevent its warping. This pressure can be conveniently applied by securing fer to pivotally mount it onto body 10 at the rear as shown at 23, securing it at the front by any suitable catch or locking arrangeinent.

For instance, the plate may be made of sheet metal having a certain amount of elasticity and may be formed with a downwardly directed lug or wall 2 1 at the front having its outer edge bent inwardly as shown at 25 and adapted to engage a recess 26 provided in the lower part at the front of body 10. Edge 25, by engaging recess 26 acts as a catch adapted to retain plate or cover 20 in the position shown in Fig. 2. By forcing ed go 25 away from recess 26, springs 21, 22 will be free to force the cover open as shown in The blade may then be extracted face of body 10.

The recess 27 between legs 15, 16 is preferably filled by a block 28 of nonanagnetic material such for instance as hard rubber, providing a uniform and uninterrupted supporting surface for the blade 14, materially assisting the action of springs 21, 22 in maintaining said blade flat.

The device is used by inserting a blade in position after each shaving and clamping it against the supporting surface by closin L7 plate or cover 20. The next day the blade can once more be withdrawn and instantly used.

It is obvious therefore, that the device constitutes not only an advantage from the economical standpoint in permitting the blade to be used over and over again for a much greater number of times than would be possible under ordinary conditions; but it also constitutes a greatconvenience from the time and labor saving standpoint, permitting as it does to use a razor blade instantly, removing the necessity of sharpening it each time. This feature is much more important in practice than the material saving in cost, and in blades, because as a rule men shaving in the morning are in a great hurry and endeavor to get through with their toilet as quickly as possible.

As stated before, the blade may be removed from the device by causing it to slide out frontwise, this incidentally being also the easiest way to overcome the resistance due to the magnetic action. The slanting of the two sides of the supporting surface to correspond with the inclination of the edges provides a convenient means for positioning the blade; however, if preferred, other positioning means may be provided such as for instance, positioning lugs 43, 44. shown in Figs. 1 to 3, acting as rear stops for the blade.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a novel and improved device for sharpening razor blades which is extremely simple both in construction and in operation, affording savings of times and blades, and insuring satisfactory operation of safety razor blades at all times.

The device is small and compact and may be made in various forms, convenient for use and travel. Accordingly, the drawings will be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in av limiting sense, because the inventive idea may be carried out in ways different from those shown. Therefore, I reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice in any way or manner which may enter fairly into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a blade supporting member made of magnetized material having two pole legs, the surfaces extending along corresponding longitudinal sides of which are formed at a slant in order 'to regiu er with -the surfaeesof the edges-of a rmr bhide snpported thereby.

2. in a device of the class i described; the ccni'biiiaitiein of fa 'bla'cle supporting i :Inember mede "of inugnetized material r lawing :two I pole legs the surfaces extending alongfeorwspending zlon m'tudinal sides 'of i which are fmmed at 'a slant in f order :to register with "thesurflaces of the-edges of a'lazor-bliade supmirted thereby, and means' for exerting: pres- -sure against"said blade.

3. 'In a devi'ce of the=elass described,:a i iiaele supporting member made of -ma'gnetized material. said Y member having a 'iU section, the surfaces extending along icorresponding"longitudinal:sidesof t-he legs or :pcle's of-said n mnlver being adapted :to sup 1 port- :a double razorbla de along its e 11- i tire lengt'h.

4. Inadev=ice=of the elass-described, a -blade'supporting member in a de of magnetized A material; said member having akU-section, the *surfaces extending-alongoorres xmding longitudinalsitles of" the legs or: poles of said member-being adapted to support a double edge razor blade alongiitsrentire length-said "surfaces beingformed at -a slant: in oi der-to Igegfiister with the surface of 1 the edges ofssaid la e.

5. In a device of the class describedya blatle supporting member:v made, of magneti zed!" ma 'tenial, said: member :havi ngwa U-"section ,-:the surfaces extending-along corresponding loingitaidinal -sidesofthe legs OI'yPOlGS (bf-said member 'being -adalpted to sup mrt a :double edge razor blade alongi-ts: entire lengtlnvand a core member intermediate of said two; pole sections providingcontinuity ofi the -:blade -supportinglsurface. I v

--6. In a device of the class described, the 1 combination-of a casing, =a oover therefor, a blade snpportin g anom-be r integralwith sai d casing made of magnetized material having two pole legs, the corresponding longitudinal side surfaces of vvh-iehslant iin order: to I register with the surfaces of the edgesof a'riwpr blade'sn'pponted thereby, enclosed in said casing, and means carried by said cover for exerting pressure against said blade, whereby the sides formed with a slant exert pressure against the lower surfaces of the edges of the razor blade.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a cover therefor,

a blade supporting member integral with said 1 casing and made of magnetized material, said member having a U-section, the surfaces of corresponding longitudinal sides of the legs or poles of said member being adapted to support a double edge razor blade along its entire length, enclosed in said casing, said surface being formed at a slant in order to register in contact with the edge surfaces of said blade, and means carried by the cover for exerting a pressure against said blad 30 whereby the lower edge surfaces of the blade 7 are pressed against said longitudinal sides. 8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a cover therefor, a blade supporting member integral with said casing and made of magnetized material, said member having a U-section, the correspond ing longitudinal sides of the legs or poles of said member being formed at a slant in order 10 to register with the edge surfaces of a razor blade supported thereby and enclosed in the casing, and springs carried by said cover for exerting pressure upon said blade whereby the lower edge surfaces of said blade are 15 pressed against said longitudinal sides.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a cover therefor, a blade supporting member integral with said casing and made of magnetized material,

said member having a U-section, the corresponding longitudinal sides of the legs or poles of said member being adapted to support a double edged razor blade along its entire length, enclosed in said casing, said sides being formed at a slant to register with the edge surfaces of said blade, and springs carried by the cover for exerting pressure upon said blade whereby the lower edge surfaces of said blade are pressed against said 30 longitudinal sides.

10. In a device of the character described, 7 the combination of a casing, a cover therefor, hinged onto said casing, a blade supporting member integral with said casing and'ma'de of magnetized material, said member having a U-section, the corresponding longitudinal sides of the legs or poles of said member being adapted to support a double edged razor blade along its entire length, enclosed in said casing, said sides being formed at a slant to register with the edge surfaces of said blade, and means carried by the cover for exerting pressure upon said blade whereby the lower edge surfaces of said blade are pressed against said longitudinal sides, and positioning means for said blade.

ALEXANDER GIRT'ANNER, 

